Artist of the Year explained

Alt Name:Portrait Artist of the Year
Landscape Artist of the Year
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Series:15
Num Episodes:141
Runtime:60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Company:Storyvault Films
Network:Sky Arts

Artist of the Year is a television competition shown on the Sky Arts channel (formerly known as Artsworld and Sky Arts 1) which aims to find the best portrait and landscape artist every year.[1]

Overview

Through several rounds of regional competitions in different parts of the UK professional and amateur artists are challenged to produce a landscape; whilst the portrait competition takes place in London where the contestants produce a picture of one of three famous sitters. The winning artist of each round, selected by three judges, advances to the semi-final and then to the final. The landscape competition is filmed on location; whilst the portrait competition is held at Battersea Arts Centre.[2] The winner of both series receives a £10,000 commission to paint either a famous landmark or a famous personality and the picture becomes part of a national collection.

The show is produced by London and Glasgow-based independent production company Storyvault Films. It is presented by Joan Bakewell and Stephen Mangan. Series 1 to 5 were presented by Frank Skinner. The judges are the British art historian, curator and arts broadcaster Kate Bryan, head of contemporary art at the Fine Art Society, Kathleen Soriano, director of exhibitions at the Royal Academy, and portrait/landscape painter Tai-Shan Schierenberg.

Joan Bakewell presented her final series of the show on Portrait Artist 2023 (Series 18 of the competition), in which she also appeared as a sitter in one of the episodes.[3]

Series

Series Start date End date Episodes Title Winner Commission
1 6 Portrait Nick Lord[4] Hilary Mantel
2 8 Portrait Christian Hook[5] Alan Cumming
3 9 Landscape Nerine McIntyre[6] Flatford Mill
4 9 Landscape Richard Allen[7] Petworth Park
5 9 Portrait Gareth Reid[8] Graham Norton
6 9 Landscape Tom Voyce[9] Firefly, Noël Coward's Jamaican residence
7 11 Portrait Samira Addo[10] Kim Cattrall
8 9 Landscape Jen Gash[11] Commission for the Imperial War Museum
9 11 Portrait Duncan Shoosmith[12] Tom Jones
10 9 Landscape Fujiko Rose Venice
11 11 Portrait Christabel Blackburn[13] Nile Rogers
12 11 Portrait Curtis Holder Carlos Acosta[14]
13 9 Landscape Ophelia Redpath[15] Snowdonia National Park
14 12 Portrait Calum Stevenson[16] Nicola Benedetti[17]
15 10 Landscape Elisha Enfield[18] Rochdale Canal
16 12 Portrait Morag CaisterLenny Henry
17 10 Landscape Finn Campbell-NotmanCelebrating the Van de Veldes
18 10 Portrait Wendy Barratt Jane Goodall[19]
19 9 Landscape Monica Popham Science Museum

International adaptations

Landscape Artist of the Year Canada, a Canadian version of the show, premiered in 2020 on Makeful.[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TV Review: Portrait Artist of the Year, Sky Arts 1. The Independent. Ellen E.. Jones. 6 November 2013. 21 June 2017.
  2. Web site: Battersea Arts Centre invite you to the filming of Sky Arts' Portrait Artist of the Year. 2022-01-11. Wandsworth Times. en.
  3. News: Williams . Zoe . @zoesqwilliams . 2023-10-19 . Joan Bakewell on love, fun and ambition at 90: ‘I’ve been pleased not to be married these last 20 years’ . 2024-01-11 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  4. Web site: Nick Lord on winning Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year . Artists & Illustrators . 16 August 2020 . April 2014.
  5. News: Ellis-Petersen . Hannah . Alan Cumming portrait unveiled at Scottish gallery . 16 August 2020 . The Guardian . 31 December 2014.
  6. News: Peebles . Cheryl . Fife pupils stunned to learn of art teacher's brush with stardom . 16 August 2020 . The Courier . 28 November 2015.
  7. News: Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year Competition winner at Petworth . 16 August 2020 . Chichester Observer . 28 March 2017.
  8. News: Dunne . Aidan . That's SO Graham Norton: Belfast man wins Sky Portrait Artist of the Year . 16 August 2020 . The Irish Times . 15 March 2017 .
  9. Web site: Aberystwyth University alumnus wins Landscape Artist of the Year . Aberystwyth University . 16 August 2020 . 7 December 2017.
  10. News: McLoughlin . Jamie . Winner's work from Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year on display in Liverpool . 16 August 2020 . . 21 March 2018.
  11. News: Jen Gash named Landscape Artist of the Year . 16 August 2020 . Gazette . 4 December 2018 . en.
  12. News: Moore . Joanne . Artist wins £50,000 but singer loses out . 16 August 2020 . The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald . 17 April 2019 .
  13. News: Portrait Artist Of The Year winner revealed . 16 August 2020 . Evening Express . Press Association . 24 March 2020.
  14. Web site: Master Strokes: Portrait Artist of the Year Winner Curtis Holder. Aceville Publications Ltd. 24 January 2021.
  15. News: . Reaching final of TV show has made me better artist . 2 October 2021 . . 13 March 2021.
  16. News: 16 December 2021. Bonnybridge painter crowned Portrait Artist of the Year. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-12-17.
  17. News: Portrait Artist of the Year season 8 on Sky Arts in October. 19 August 2021.
  18. News: 16 March 2022. SkyArts Landscape Artist of the Year stunned by her win. 2022-05-02.
  19. Web site: Catch up with the latest episodes of Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2023. Orme. Sarah. 23 November 2023. Gathered.how. 6 December 2023.
  20. News: Gee . Dana . Top British landscape TV hit gets a fresh coat of Canadian paint . 2 October 2021 . . 14 February 2020 . en-CA.